A broad coalition of California legislators, teachers, parents and business leaders, together with national education experts, STEM advocates and CEOs, are battling Governor Brown’s drastic budget proposal to eliminate funding for a second year of high school science in California schools. 

The coalition believes the Governor’s proposed cut to science education is particularly mystifying, given that there is clear consensus on the vital importance of improving science education to maintain California’s ability to compete in a global economy.  

Here are the facts:

• California law states high school graduates must complete two years of science, which is also a requirement for entry to the California State University or University of California systems.
• If Brown's proposal is approved, California would be the only state in the nation that effectively allows schools to stop offering a second year of high school science to graduate.
• California students already rank near the bottom among states in science scores, while other states are increasing their science requirements and expanding their science offerings.
• By 2018 California will need science-savvy graduates to fill more than one million STEM jobs, by far the most of any state.

Earlier this year, CTEq Chairman Craig Barrett sent a letter to Governor Brown stating his concerns about the proposed budget reduction. Dr. Barrett, the retired Chairman and CEO of Intel Corporation as well as a graduate of Carlmont High School in San Carlos, strongly urged the Governor to “not mortgage [students] future by dumbing down their educational expectations from a level that is already substandard.”

Do you share this concern?  Reach out to your CA state legislator to make your opinion known.  The final debate on the Governor’s budget proposal is scheduled for this week.